Thermodynamic analysis of advanced power cycles based upon Solid Oxide Fuel Cells, gas turbines and rankine bottoming cycles

Abstract

This paper investigates the thermodynamic potential of the integrated Solid Oxide Fuel Cell - Gas Turbine technology for medium and large scale electric power production. After detailed description of the adopted calculation model, the performances of a variety of plant configurations are presented. The obtained results show the possibility of achieving very high efficiencies with pressurized SOFC-gas turbine cycles with heat recovery bottoming cycles: net LHV efficiencies exceeding 70% with almost zero-NOx emissions.